JUST 10 months ago, life as we knew it changed after the UK went into the first coronavirus lockdown.

Now, we all have a face mask at hand and it feel like a lifetime ago since we could head to the shops without a bottle of hand sanitizer at the ready.

While the pandemic is far from over, vaccines are being rolled out and health secretary, Matt Hancock, said there is “light at the end of the tunnel”.

To give yourself a break from the doom and gloom and also keep your spirits up, here are nine things that locals can look forward to when lockdown finally ends:

Having a few pints at the pub

After some challenging weeks stuck in the house and homeschooling the kids, I bet a lot of people are missing the pub right now.

However, the day will come when pubs can once again open and you can enjoy a few drinks with friends.

You could even embark on a pub crawl without needing to book in advance.

Which local pubs will be at the top of your list?

Perhaps the historic King’s Head in Carlisle will be at the top of your list?

News and Star: The King's Head (Photo: Google Maps)The King's Head (Photo: Google Maps)

Or maybe you have been craving a carvery and a pint at Romney’s in Kendal.

The Euros and Olympics will be back when lockdown eases, meaning we have something to watch with our mates at the pub

Days out with the kids

By now, it’s likely that your kids are clawing at the walls, desperate to have a day out.

When restrictions ease, you will never complain about a day out at the soft play centre again.

When lockdown eases, why don’t you make the most of the freedom and take your kids somewhere new?

Our readers have raved about Blencogo Farm Alpacas in Wigton.

Alternatively, thrill seekers might prefer a day out at Go Ape!

Luckily, for Cumbrians there is a Go Ape! Site 45 minutes away from Carlisle in Keswick. This is one of the highest Go Ape location in the UK and is over 1000 feet above sea level.

How long has it been since you last went bowling? One the alleys open up again head down to Hollywood Bowl in Carlisle.

Going dancing

The pubs were able to reopen, at least for a short time, last year.

However, the same cannot be said for nightclubs which have been forced to close their doors since March of last year.

Nights out just haven’t been the same while sitting in chairs, unable to even sing along to music in the background.

(Facebook/ @club.britannia.1)

What we wouldn’t give to have a night out in the recently refurbished Club Britannia in Carlisle, or have a dance in Manhattans in Barrow.

Watching a show at the theatre

When lockdown is over, we can all once again enjoy a show at the theatre.

From pantomimes to live music, we will be eager to book it all just so we can get out of the house and get away from  a screen for a while.

When lockdown restrictions end and the pandemic is far behind us, we could be looking at a brand new Sands Centre as Carlisle City Council is investing £25 million in the Sands Centre.

(Instagram/sands.centre)

Changes include two new swimming pools and a new sports hall, allowing the existing main hall to be transformed into a dedicated auditorium for gigs.

We can’t wait to see shows, gigs and theatre productions on the stage.

Wigton’s John Peel Theatre is also undergoing refurbishment, so that the audience can enjoy a better sound system and lighting once they are allowed to re-open.

A stress-free holiday

The travel rules since the pandemic have been ever changing and evolving, making many apprehensive about travelling abroad even when they were allowed to.

 Many of us can’t wait to jet off on a plane- but we can still dream and start planning the next big holiday.

Until then, we can still book staycations close to our home town with confidence.

Luckily for us, the Lake District is just on our doorstep and is the perfect location for a relaxing getaway this summer.

Alternatively, Roman Wall Lodges in Carlisle is a popular glamping destination, with camping pods, firepits, a reading room and even a small library on site- prices start from £50 per night.

A trip to the cinema

Staying in bed and watching Netflix was great for a while- but now we are sorry for taking the cinema for granted.

After lockdown, movie productions will kickstart and we will be able to enjoy movies on the big screen once again.

Until then, drive-in cinemas will be the new normal just like the one Adventure Drive-In hosted in Carlisle last summer.

The company has been approached for comment to see if they will be hosting any similar events this year.

Going to a festival

The coronavirus brought an end to festivals- even local ones.

This was sad news for ticket holders to Solfest which is on the Solway Coast.

(Facebook/@Solfestcumbria)

However, the festival is hopeful that it will return this year (27-29 August) and the first wave of acts has already been released.

Razorlight, Maximo Park and Basement Jaxx are just three big names in the line up.

Carlisle’s Music and Drama festival was also cancelled last year; the festival was meant to celebrating 125 years since the festival was first held in the city.

The organisers recently announced that the festival will not be taking place this year.

In a Facebook post they wrote: “We understand that many people will be disappointed but felt unanimously that we could not run a Festival that would be the usual joyous celebration of the performing arts that it should be, while safeguarding our performers, volunteers and audiences.”

They added that they “look forward to seeing [us] in 2022”.

Watching live football

(Instagram/@officialcufc)

Football just isn’t the same without seeing the fans in the stands or hearing them cheer when a goal is scored.

I’m sure Carlisle FC fans will be excited to once again head back to Brunton Park and watch their home team play once more.

Seeing Santa

Christmas was a very different affair for everyone.

If the kids got to see Santa at all, it was likely from behind a Perspex screen or via a video call.

When lockdown restrictions ease we can once again resume our normal Christmas traditions.

The Wigton Christmas light display was just one across the county that had to be cancelled.

At the time, Clerk to the town council, Alison Dodd, said: “Due to lockdown we never really got anything off the ground. We would just like to hope that we’ll be doing it bigger and better next year.”

What are you most looking forward to doing once the pandemic is over?